Mail-delivery box.



No. 734,266. PATENTBD JULY 21, 1903.

v v w. S.-ISHAM.

MAIL DELIVERY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WW/%) I are. 734,266,

UNITED STATES Patented July 21, 1.903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM s. ISHAM, t MAPLE IILL, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR oETwoTHI RDs TO JOSEPH N. DOLLYAND HARRY R. WILLIAMS, 0F MAPLEHILL, KANSAS.

MAIL-DELIVIERY BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,266, dated July 21, 1903. Application filed March 18.1903. serial No. 148,341. (No model.)

To all whom, it mag concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. IsHAM, a

citizen of the United States of America, resid-' ing at Maplehill, in the county of WVabaunsee and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Delivery Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has special reference to rural mail-delivery boxes, the object being to pro- [0 vide such a box which is simple and economic in construction, which may readily be opened and closed by the carrier, which is proof against the elements, especially rain, snow, and ice; A V V I5 The invention consists of the novel combination, arrangement, and disposition of the parts, the preferred form of the embodiment whereof is herein described and claimed and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the box with a vertical central longitudinal section of the right end thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the box. Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the line as y of Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the box open. Fig. 5 is a top view of a portion of the box and frame.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views. E may represent the post on which the box is mounted. D may be a board attached to the top of the post.

0 is the frame or bracket for the box, attached to the side of the lower member. 3 5 B is a lower semicylinder mounted on the frame or bracket 0 and having the circular ends 3 at. v

A is an upper semicylinder having circular ends 1 2 pivoted, 5, to the circular ends of the lower semicylinder. The upper semicylinder A incloses the ends and overlaps the sides of the lower semicylinder, fitting snugly thereover, so that the elements the rain orthe snow or the icecan neither enter the box nor clog the same. The sides of the upper and lower members may be beaded, 6 7 8 9, as shown, and the front edge 9 of the upper member may be bent slightly inward, Fig. 3, so as to tightly engage the adjoining side 8 of the lower member. The frame or bracket 0 has a staple 10, and the upper or movable member A has a hasp 11, whereby the upper member may be opened or closed and the box fastened or locked.

To operate the box, the carriersimply lifts the hasp orhandle 1 1, causing the upper member to oscillate about the lower member. If constructed in about the proportions shown in the drawings, the opening will be about one hundred-and twenty degrees, which is ample for ordinary purposes. The box is closed by simply pulling the hasparound again, so as to bring the upper member to its normal position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5.

If desired, a clip or shelf ",13 may be provided inside the box for delivering outgoing mail to the carrier, and another clip 12 may be used for mounting a flag. It is understood, of course, that although the two main members are described herein as semicylin- 7o drical, this term is used only approximately, for, as shown, the members actually overlap to some extent, and the members may vary slightly from semicylindrical according to the opening required, and there maybe other 7 5 variations from the exact description shown herein and in the drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 8o 1. The mail-delivery box consisting of the combination of the lower semicylindrical member having its opening facing upward; the supporting-bracket attached to the lower forward quarter of the lower member, and a support for the bracket extending rearwardly underneath the lower member but not'touching the same; the upper semicylindrical member whose side edges overlap the correspondin g edges of the lower member, the front 9c edge of the upper member being.bent ,inwardly to frictionally engage the edge of the lower member to form a locking device there for; a suitable lifting device for the upper member; both lower and upper members 9 5 having concentric circular. ends, pivoted together at the center, the ends of 'the upper member inclosing the en'ds'of the lower member; whereby the upper memberis adapted to form a lid for, and to oscillate about, the Ice lower member.

2. The mail-delivery box consisting of the combination of the lower inner semicylin drical member having its opening facing upward; the su p porting-bracket attached to the outerlower forward quarter of the lower member, and a support for the bracket extending rearwardly therefrom but spaced apart from the lower member; the upper out-er semicylindrical member having its opening facing donwward whose side edges overlap those of the lower member, the front edge of the upper member being bent inwardly to frictionally engage the adjoining edge of the lower member in their closed position; the supporting-bracket being provided with a staple and the upper member being provided with a hasp I 5 to engage the staple in the closed position; both lower and upper members having concentric circular ends, pivoted together at the center, whereby the upper outer member is adapted to oscillate about, and form a lid for, the inner lower member.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. ISI'IAM.

Vitnesses:

J. N. DOLLEY, I. N. ISHAM. 

